If you are a keen follower of my blog, I’m sure that you have heard me countless times going on and on about the importance of taking your measurements to monitor your progress. Just to recap the most vital measurements that you should be taking on a weekly basis are your weight and your bodyfat percentage. This is so important whether you are training to burn fat or to build muscle. From these measurements you can work out your body composition (i.e. how much of your weight is from fat and how much is from lean weight, then depending on what your goals are, you can make adjustments to your diet to improve them the next week. For example, if you are trying to burn fat and you find from your measurements that you have lost some muscle that week. That means that you are not getting enough calories so will need to increase your calorie intake, or that you are not getting enough protein to sustain your muscle. On the other side if you are trying to gain muscle and your measurements reveal that you haven’t put on any weight at all, again you will need to increase your calorie intake.
Now as we know weighing yourself is very easy. Whether you weigh yourself at the gym or at home on your own scales, so long as you use the same scales each time and weigh yourself at the same time each day, that is fine. Now when it comes to measuring your bodyfat there are several different methods available. Under water weighing, bioelectric impedance, bodyfat calipers to name just a few.
In my opinion the best method, because of it’s convenience and also because it is quite accurate, is the use of a set bodyfat calipers. They are also fairly cheap to buy, you can pick up a good set for between $20-$80. For the most accurate reading you should be taking measurements at multi points on your body. A good set of calipers will give detailed instructions on how to take the most accurate bodyfat measurement, measuring points may include chest, abdomen, tricep and thigh.
As with anything practice is required to become good at taking a good accurate bodyfat reading. You need to aim to pinch the same amount of skin at the same points, this will then give you a good representation on your bodyfat levels, and more importantly whether they are going up or down. Repeating your measurements a few times, to make sure that they are the sameeach time isalso a good way tomakesureyou are getting a good reading.
I’m not going to recommend a certain make of bodyfat caliper to you, as i’m not trying to make money off you. What I will say though is that I recommend that you do a bit of research for yourself before you spend your money. Look for calipers that are made by a reputable company, and see if they are endorsed by an official governing body, such as the World NaturalBodybuilding Foundation, this should ensure that you get a good set.
P.S don’t forget about my Fat loss and muscle building Q & A follow the link for details.
